Completing the human genome: the progress and challenge of satellite DNA assembly

Chromosome Res. 2015 Sep;23(3):421-6. doi: 10.1007/s10577-015-9488-2.

Abstract

Genomic studies rely on accurate chromosome assemblies to explore sequence-based models of cell biology, evolution and biomedical disease. However, even the extensively studied human genome has not yet reached a complete, 'telomere-to-telomere', chromosome assembly. The largest assembly gaps remain in centromeric regions and acrocentric short arms, sites known to contain megabase-sized arrays of tandem repeats, or satellite DNAs. This review aims to briefly address the progress and challenges of generating correct assemblies of satellite DNA arrays. Although the focus is placed on the human genome, many concepts presented here are applicable to other genomes.

Keywords: Satellite DNA; acrocentric repeats; assembly; centromere; pericentromeric heterochromatin.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Centromere / genetics
  • Computational Biology / methods
  • DNA, Satellite
  • Genome, Human*
  • Genomics* / methods
  • Heterochromatin / genetics
  • Humans

Substances

  • DNA, Satellite
  • Heterochromatin